Following up on issues with Apple's new Setup Assistant (included with the iMac G5, Power Mac G5, and other new Macs), we realized that it has at least one critical limitation: When you use it to migrate from another Mac system, even one that's up to date with the latest Mac OS X software, Setup Assistant apparently excludes kernel extensions ('.kext'), causing certain applications to fail. A perfect example is PGP Disk, which needs /Library/Extensions/PGPdiskDriver.kext to function. Another is Kensington's MouseWorks.
You'll have to manually re-install these applications, but it's not obvious which they are. You can search for 'kext' in the Finder, which is a start. You can dig deeper using Terminal to issue Unix commands. For example, you can type
kextstat -k
to list active kernel extensions. ('kextload' and 'kextunload' provide dynamic control over the loading and unloading of kernel extensions, but dependencies among extensions could create technical issues that may be very tricky to navigate.)
Monday, October 11, 2004
Limitation of Apple's OS X setup Assistant system migration utility: Kernel Extensions
MacInTouch Home Page
Digital Photo Copy Cruiser Plus: Burn CDs of images
Digital Photo Copy Cruiser Plus
One of the big fears of traveling with a digital camera is losing images -- especially if one doesn't also travel with a laptop, or one doesn't have a CD burner in the laptop. (The latter is rare now, but sadly I bought my G3 iBook without a CD burner. I really ought to start looking for used G4 iBook or even another G3 with a CD burner ...)
There are several products like this emerging -- probably all using innards for the same Taiwanese/Chinese manufacturers. They make it possible to travel with a digital camera and without a laptop. They are particularly appealing because they have their own internal LiOn battery.
The idea is that every few days one burns two CDs from every memory card, then erases the card. Mail one CD home and keep one with you. (Distributing images to friends at parties/etc is probably another "feature", not sure how well that would work in practice.)
Next best thing is to have an iPod to backup images on -- especially if one travels with an iPod anyway. Problem is current iPods require an expensive, bulky, and kludgy add-on to pull in digital images. I hope the next generation iPod will work with any memory card reader or mini-USB camera connector. We'll see -- Apple has has had a surprising amount of trouble figuring out digital images (witness their underfunding of iPhoto development).
There are other hard drive image stores, analogous to the iPod, but like the iPod they are not as safe as mailing CDs. Luggage does get stolen.
This is going on my "to consider" shopping list. I may wait until the price competition gets fierce -- or until they incorporate a DVD burner as well. I will also look for a manufacturer who gets the "power brick right" including. They key thing will be either:
1. recharge via USB 2 cable (there are lots of compact USB 2 charging devices on the market).
2. have a very compact and elegant power brick (but #1 is better).
Most vendors of these sorts of devices mess up on the power brick/adapter/charger.
So things to look for:
1. replaceable or standard LiOn battery (such things exist - as in digital cameras. Wouldn't it be radical for such a device to use the same LiOn battery the camera used? Nahhh.).
2. external compact LiOn charger or USB 2.0 charger
3. DVD burning support (futuristic, takes more power, more complex, etc.)
One of the big fears of traveling with a digital camera is losing images -- especially if one doesn't also travel with a laptop, or one doesn't have a CD burner in the laptop. (The latter is rare now, but sadly I bought my G3 iBook without a CD burner. I really ought to start looking for used G4 iBook or even another G3 with a CD burner ...)
There are several products like this emerging -- probably all using innards for the same Taiwanese/Chinese manufacturers. They make it possible to travel with a digital camera and without a laptop. They are particularly appealing because they have their own internal LiOn battery.
The idea is that every few days one burns two CDs from every memory card, then erases the card. Mail one CD home and keep one with you. (Distributing images to friends at parties/etc is probably another "feature", not sure how well that would work in practice.)
Next best thing is to have an iPod to backup images on -- especially if one travels with an iPod anyway. Problem is current iPods require an expensive, bulky, and kludgy add-on to pull in digital images. I hope the next generation iPod will work with any memory card reader or mini-USB camera connector. We'll see -- Apple has has had a surprising amount of trouble figuring out digital images (witness their underfunding of iPhoto development).
There are other hard drive image stores, analogous to the iPod, but like the iPod they are not as safe as mailing CDs. Luggage does get stolen.
This is going on my "to consider" shopping list. I may wait until the price competition gets fierce -- or until they incorporate a DVD burner as well. I will also look for a manufacturer who gets the "power brick right" including. They key thing will be either:
1. recharge via USB 2 cable (there are lots of compact USB 2 charging devices on the market).
2. have a very compact and elegant power brick (but #1 is better).
Most vendors of these sorts of devices mess up on the power brick/adapter/charger.
So things to look for:
1. replaceable or standard LiOn battery (such things exist - as in digital cameras. Wouldn't it be radical for such a device to use the same LiOn battery the camera used? Nahhh.).
2. external compact LiOn charger or USB 2.0 charger
3. DVD burning support (futuristic, takes more power, more complex, etc.)
Sunday, October 10, 2004
Google AdSense - Preview Tool FAQ
Google AdSense - Preview Tool FAQ
AdSense providers aren't allowed to click on AdSense ads; this preview tool does get around that. Unfortunately it's IE only (yech). Google needs to get away from all these IE only solutions.
The Google AdSense preview tool is an addition to the right-click menu for Windows Internet Explorer 6.x, allowing you to preview the ads that may show on any web page. With just a few clicks, you can see what ads may appear on your new web pages, or make an educated decision on whether to add AdSense to your existing site pages.
Other features include:
Check the destination of ads that are on your page: ads displayed in the preview tool are in a test state, so you don't have to worry about accidentally clicking on an ad. Clicks and impressions are not counted against the ads that display within the preview tool.
View sample ad formats and colors: create previews of formats and color combinations within the preview tool. Choose from 2 different preview formats, plus a 12 ad spread that allows you to view more available ads at once.
Preview colors on your page: the 'Preview' feature of the Color Options menu allows you to see what new color combinations would look like on existing AdSense standard ad units, right on the page. By simply selecting new border, background, or text colors from the preview tool, and clicking "Preview," the new colors will be temporarily applied to the standard ad unit currently on your page.
Geo-targeted locations: select the geo-targeted location from which to view ads, allowing you to see what users in Canada will see, even if you live in Japan.
AdSense providers aren't allowed to click on AdSense ads; this preview tool does get around that. Unfortunately it's IE only (yech). Google needs to get away from all these IE only solutions.
Review: Xitel INport - Dan's Recommendation for sound input
Review: Xitel INport
Digitizing tapes and LPs, a relatively good solution to sound input. (Years ago I bought a high end sound card that was supposed to allow good sound input -- awful interference problems!). USB input. An industrial version of the Griffin iMic.
Digitizing tapes and LPs, a relatively good solution to sound input. (Years ago I bought a high end sound card that was supposed to allow good sound input -- awful interference problems!). USB input. An industrial version of the Griffin iMic.
Quicken -- the LAST straw
Quicken.com - Quicken software Official Site Home, See Your Complete Financial Picture in Minutes
When I download my US Bank information into Quicken 2002 it creates split transactions for every item based on an old memorized paycheck transaction. No matter how many times I mess around with memorized transactions, I can't make QKN 2002 stop doing this.
I've used Quicken since version 2.0 for DOS. Over the past 15 years or so it's, in general, become more complex and less reliable. (Exception: For about 4-5 years in the middle of that interval Quicken routinely corrupted data files. That got fixed.)
It's just a crummy piece of software junk now.
I'm back to spreadsheets.
When I download my US Bank information into Quicken 2002 it creates split transactions for every item based on an old memorized paycheck transaction. No matter how many times I mess around with memorized transactions, I can't make QKN 2002 stop doing this.
I've used Quicken since version 2.0 for DOS. Over the past 15 years or so it's, in general, become more complex and less reliable. (Exception: For about 4-5 years in the middle of that interval Quicken routinely corrupted data files. That got fixed.)
It's just a crummy piece of software junk now.
I'm back to spreadsheets.
The Celestia Motherlode: Holy Cow.
The Celestia Motherlode: Home
Unbelievable. A repository of celestial data sets that drive a virtual universe explorer -- Celestia.
Unbelievable. A repository of celestial data sets that drive a virtual universe explorer -- Celestia.
About.com Mac Movable Type Blog
Focus on Macs
I'd forgotten about "about.com". Turns out, it's still out and about.
It came up on a Google search, and on inspection it looks interesting. I'll add it to my bloglines collection.
I'd forgotten about "about.com". Turns out, it's still out and about.
It came up on a Google search, and on inspection it looks interesting. I'll add it to my bloglines collection.
Paragon CD-ROM emulator
CD-ROM emulator
Third in the series of the CD emulators. One problem with emulation on Windows is the darned drive letter issue. Mac Classic was immune to drive letter confusion. Unfortunately OS X isn't as good about this as Classic was (the biggest single step backwards between OS X and Classic).
Third in the series of the CD emulators. One problem with emulation on Windows is the darned drive letter issue. Mac Classic was immune to drive letter confusion. Unfortunately OS X isn't as good about this as Classic was (the biggest single step backwards between OS X and Classic).
Virtual CD: Mount CD Image on Windows XP
Virtual CD Drive Emulator Info and Download
One of 3-4 tools that brings some of the OS X built-in image handling capabilities to Windows.
One of 3-4 tools that brings some of the OS X built-in image handling capabilities to Windows.
Saturday, October 09, 2004
American Express | Statement Delivery Options - We're Sorry... (and sorry, and sorry)
American Express | Statement Delivery Options - We're Sorry...: "We are currently experiencing technical difficulties. Please wait 15 minutes and then retry your request. "
I've been getting the same error message from American Express for five days. It's had to communicate how very unimpressed I am.
Ten years ago when Quicken maile dme a diskette of credit card transactions every month I had no problems. It just worked. It worked for years. Things have never worked as well since.
AMEX has had years of problems with their systems providing online banking support. I wish I knew who did their IT work -- so I could avoid them like the plague!
I've been getting the same error message from American Express for five days. It's had to communicate how very unimpressed I am.
Ten years ago when Quicken maile dme a diskette of credit card transactions every month I had no problems. It just worked. It worked for years. Things have never worked as well since.
AMEX has had years of problems with their systems providing online banking support. I wish I knew who did their IT work -- so I could avoid them like the plague!
Disk Imaging for Mac OS X and putting CDs on an iPod
AFP548 - Disk Imaging for Mac OS X Made Easy
This is a rather technical article on an esoteric topic; but it puts a lot of useful information together.
In a much simpler vein, it finally occurred to me that I could put images of the chilrden's CDs on my iPod. Using Disk Utility I easily turned 6 children's games CD into images stored on my iPod. Creating as CDR, compressed or read/write image all worked, but compressed took a long time to open. One or two occasions I had to "dismount" the CD (not eject) using Disk Utility in order to isolate "Session One". I think used the create New Image menu to specify "Session One" as the source.
This is all legal -- they are four our use. We still have the CDs, but it's much more convenient to run off my iPod rather than hunt down the vulnerable CDs. Faster too.
I suspect I can do something similar on my PC, but I don't know how! Disk Images are a natural part of OS X.
This is a rather technical article on an esoteric topic; but it puts a lot of useful information together.
In a much simpler vein, it finally occurred to me that I could put images of the chilrden's CDs on my iPod. Using Disk Utility I easily turned 6 children's games CD into images stored on my iPod. Creating as CDR, compressed or read/write image all worked, but compressed took a long time to open. One or two occasions I had to "dismount" the CD (not eject) using Disk Utility in order to isolate "Session One". I think used the create New Image menu to specify "Session One" as the source.
This is all legal -- they are four our use. We still have the CDs, but it's much more convenient to run off my iPod rather than hunt down the vulnerable CDs. Faster too.
I suspect I can do something similar on my PC, but I don't know how! Disk Images are a natural part of OS X.
Bloggler's Potemkin Permalinks
This is the "permalink" to a post in my test blog (authored using blogger).
Test Blog: OriginalName
Here's the "permalink" after I edited the subject line in the above post.
Test Blog: NewName
Try both. The first now fails. The second will work until I revise the subject line.
These are not Permalinks -- they are Potemkin Links. They look "permanent", but they're fake.
Blogger doesn't support true Permalinks on their post pages.
This is a poor practice. Blogger is encouraging widespread broken links.
There are at lest two things they could do instead:
1. Blogger supports true permalinks on non-post page blogs. They should create a new template tag that would support these old-style in-context links. I prefer in-context permalinks anyway.
2. Blogger could support indirection, so the old link would redirect to the new link.
Test Blog: OriginalName
Here's the "permalink" after I edited the subject line in the above post.
Test Blog: NewName
Try both. The first now fails. The second will work until I revise the subject line.
These are not Permalinks -- they are Potemkin Links. They look "permanent", but they're fake.
Blogger doesn't support true Permalinks on their post pages.
This is a poor practice. Blogger is encouraging widespread broken links.
There are at lest two things they could do instead:
1. Blogger supports true permalinks on non-post page blogs. They should create a new template tag that would support these old-style in-context links. I prefer in-context permalinks anyway.
2. Blogger could support indirection, so the old link would redirect to the new link.
iFire and Apple Pro speakers
ATPM 10.02 - Review: iFire
Apple sells Apple Pro Speakers for their G4 machines. I don't think they're supported on later model G5 machines, so they don't have much of a future. They require an unusual audio connector that provides firewire-level power as well as ditigal sound output.
As the G4s move into the twilight unsold speakers are being dumped on the market. Dealmac listed a Small Dog computer price of $15 for demo models (open box) with a $3 shipping credit.
Turns out other machines can use these -- if one buys a Griffin iFire. Griffin's site has a very limited description, but the this and this review gives a much better picture. The iFire is mouse-sized converter that gets its power from a firewire port -- or a an iPod charger or other firewire-type power source. It has a standard analog audio in jack, so it's doing D/A conversion . It's a bit disconcerting that the iBook/iPod is translating the digital music to an analog output, then the iFire is converting the analog signal to a digital signal for these speakers, which in turn translate it to an analog output (sound waves). Seems like one could do with fewer D/A conversions. Good thing I'm not an aesthete. We do need to get better about digital output.
Too bad the AirPort Express doesn't support these speakers!
I've ordered both the iFire on the Apple Pro speakers from Small Dog. The combination was $50 (I'm surprised Small Dog isn't bundling them), but this is still a good price. I'll either use them with my iBook and/or iPod in the kitchen (powered off my iPod charger) or upstairs powered from the firewire PCI card in my XP machine. In both cases I'm getting a compact set of speakers and I don't have to fuss with yet another power brick!
These aren't really travel speakers, they're a peculiar niche product of high quality compact sound sources.
I'll update this posting after I get my toys.
Update: I got my speakers from Small Dog computing today. They came without packaging, manual, etc. They were dusty, dirty, and spartan. They work just fine though, and a damp cloth made them look fine too. The iFire is smaller than I'd expected, it's a bit thicker than an iPod mini. I never read the directions, it was obvious how to hook it up. I experimented with putting the speakers on my iBook, but for now they're on my XP machine upstairs. The PCI firewire card (Orange Micro) is powering the iFire, in turn the iFire is managing the speakers. It's quite compact and much neater than traditional PC speakers (no power brick!).
They're not the greatest speakers for rock and roll or R&B (limited bass), but Jazz sounds terrific (good mid-range).
Apple sells Apple Pro Speakers for their G4 machines. I don't think they're supported on later model G5 machines, so they don't have much of a future. They require an unusual audio connector that provides firewire-level power as well as ditigal sound output.
As the G4s move into the twilight unsold speakers are being dumped on the market. Dealmac listed a Small Dog computer price of $15 for demo models (open box) with a $3 shipping credit.
Turns out other machines can use these -- if one buys a Griffin iFire. Griffin's site has a very limited description, but the this and this review gives a much better picture. The iFire is mouse-sized converter that gets its power from a firewire port -- or a an iPod charger or other firewire-type power source. It has a standard analog audio in jack, so it's doing D/A conversion . It's a bit disconcerting that the iBook/iPod is translating the digital music to an analog output, then the iFire is converting the analog signal to a digital signal for these speakers, which in turn translate it to an analog output (sound waves). Seems like one could do with fewer D/A conversions. Good thing I'm not an aesthete. We do need to get better about digital output.
Too bad the AirPort Express doesn't support these speakers!
I've ordered both the iFire on the Apple Pro speakers from Small Dog. The combination was $50 (I'm surprised Small Dog isn't bundling them), but this is still a good price. I'll either use them with my iBook and/or iPod in the kitchen (powered off my iPod charger) or upstairs powered from the firewire PCI card in my XP machine. In both cases I'm getting a compact set of speakers and I don't have to fuss with yet another power brick!
These aren't really travel speakers, they're a peculiar niche product of high quality compact sound sources.
I'll update this posting after I get my toys.
Update: I got my speakers from Small Dog computing today. They came without packaging, manual, etc. They were dusty, dirty, and spartan. They work just fine though, and a damp cloth made them look fine too. The iFire is smaller than I'd expected, it's a bit thicker than an iPod mini. I never read the directions, it was obvious how to hook it up. I experimented with putting the speakers on my iBook, but for now they're on my XP machine upstairs. The PCI firewire card (Orange Micro) is powering the iFire, in turn the iFire is managing the speakers. It's quite compact and much neater than traditional PC speakers (no power brick!).
They're not the greatest speakers for rock and roll or R&B (limited bass), but Jazz sounds terrific (good mid-range).
MacZealots.com - Comparable applications for Windows and OS X
MacZealots.com - Articles - From Windows To OS X: The Applications
The list is interesting in both directions. He understated the choices on the PC, but I still found some PC apps of interest to match the OS X apps I use. (I need to work on both platforms.)
The list is interesting in both directions. He understated the choices on the PC, but I still found some PC apps of interest to match the OS X apps I use. (I need to work on both platforms.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)